Instant analysis: UAB blows out South Alabama at home

The UAB Blazers (3-0) rolled to a 35-3 victory over the South Alabama Jaguars today at Legion Field in Birmingham.

An announced attendance of 27,932 witnessed the Blazers jump out to a 28-3 lead before halftime as UAB chewed clock with Spencer Brown and Johnathan Haden in the second half.

Tyler Johnston finished the game with 313 yards, three touchdowns and an interception on 22-of-27 passing while rushing for 26 yards. Receivers Kendall Parham and Austin Watkins each caught a touchdown pass from Johnston, and Parham set a career-high with 107 yards and had a 67-yard touchdown reception on his second catch of the game.

Brown led the running game with 80 yards on 18 carries and scored his first two rushing touchdowns of the season with 1-yard runs at the goal-line in the second quarter. Haden had 19 yards on four carries and caught two passes for 9 yards.

Defensively, the Blazers held South Alabama to 191 total yards of offense, 2-of-11 on third-down conversions and had eight tackles for loss along with five sacks.

Marino tells no lies

At the beginning of the week, UAB defensive lineman Garrett Marino took to social media to share his impatience of waiting a few more days to sack a quarterback.

Marino made good on his word with a sack of South Alabama quarterback Cephus Johnson on the second offensive play of the game. Facing a 2nd-and-8 from his own 27-yard line, Johnson took the snap and had little time to read his progression as Marino barreled through the offensive line for the sack and a 5-yard loss back to the 22-yard line.

South Alabama failed to gain the first-down on the ensuing play and UAB took advantage of poor pass-coverage on the next drive with a 67-yard touchdown from Johnston to Parham.

Not the least bit satisfied, Marino found backup quarterback Tylan Morton for a 5-yard loss on the Jaguars’ first offensive play of the second half.

Marino finished the game with three tackles, two sacks and a pass breakup.

Blazers producing big-plays

Once again, the Blazers flexed their offensive muscle with three scoring plays of 16 yards or more while still demonstrating their ability to drive the ball with a formidable rushing attack.

On the third offensive play for UAB, Johnston found Parham for a 67-yard scoring strike and bookended the first half with a 30-yard touchdown pass to Watkins. Between quick scoring plays, Brown was back to his usual workhorse status and had 51 yards in the first half with two 1-yard touchdown runs and long runs of 17 and 22 yards.

Johnston, meanwhile, was able to pick apart the South Alabama secondary and had seven total completions of 16 yards or more in the game. Including 16-yard second-half touchdown throw to tight end Hayden Pittman.

Takeaways from South Alabama-UAB final stats ...

1. Jaguars had to get out of their game plan early, but 8 touches for Tra Minter & 4 for Kawaan Baker isn’t going to get it done.

The Blazers entered the South Alabama contest converting only 18.5 percent of its third-down attempts (5-of-27) but rectified that inconsistency against the Jaguars with an impressive 9-of-13 on third-downs for a 69.2 percent conversion rate.

UAB was only 3-of-5 in the first half but was a perfect 3-of-3 on its opening drive of the second half and was 9-of-13 overall in the game. Johnston was sharp on conversion attempts going 4-of-5 for 34 yards on third down.

On the other side of the ball, the Blazers’ defense held South Alabama to a measly 2-of-11 on third-down conversions and are now allowing a 21.4 percent opponent conversion rate (9-of-42) for the season.